stick out

verb

stuck out; sticking out; sticks out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to jut out : project

ears that stick out

b

: to be prominent or conspicuous

stuck out in an orange vest

2

British, informal : to be persistent (as in a demand or an opinion)

transitive verb

1

: extend (as a body part) outward

stick out your tongue

2

: endure, last entry 1

—often used with it

stuck it out to the end

Synonyms of stick out

• protrude
• poke
• stand out
• bulge

Examples of stick out in a Sentence

no feet sticking out in the aisles, please

managed to stick out the whole race despite her bad knee

Recent Examples on the Web

Buzelis’ ambitious shot volume, though, sticks out. —Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026

Her father found her inside their home with a knife sticking out of her neck and signs of struggle in multiple rooms. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026

The design is also meant to improve aerodynamic performance, covering over the pickup box for smoother airflow, unlike toppers and RTTs that add drag by sticking out above the truck cab. —New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026

One item that initially stuck out to me on the list was cinnamon. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1640, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for stick out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

stick out

verb

1

a

: to extend out : project

b

: to be noticeable

you will certainly stick out with that red hat and coat

2

: to put up with : endure

stuck it out to the bitter end